By Abubakar Umar Mahmud
The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has asked the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, to stop the prolonged investigation of the Nigerian military.
The AGF listed the country’s position in a statement made available to the media in Abuja by the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity, Office of the AGF and Minister of Justice, Kamarudeen Ogundele.
Punch news quoted, the AGF, in his remarks at the twenty third session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC in Hague, stated that Nigeria at the global stage had demonstrated the will to promote justice and end terrorism among other global crimes.
The Minister While articulating the country’s commitment to confronting impunity, holding perpetrators of heinous crimes accountable, and restoring justice for victims, noted further that the preliminary examination into alleged crimes in Nigeria had lasted fourteen years and was discouraging to the service men laying their lives to defend their country against terrorists.
The minister emphasized that Nigeria, as a responsible state party to the Rome Statute, had consistently engaged with the Office of the Prosecutor and demonstrated its military’s adherence to international humanitarian law and ensuring accountability for any personnel found guilty of misconduct.
The AGF observed further that the country was concerned by the seemingly predetermined stance of the Office of the Prosecutor regarding armed forces and the situation in Nigeria despite these efforts.
The minister Fagbemi, on behalf of Nigeria, called on all States Parties to ratify the Convention on Cluster Munitions, as the use of cluster munitions continues to cause widespread suffering and hinders peace-building and humanitarian efforts.
He also congratulated the newly elected members of the Board of Directors of the Trust Fund for Victims, saying that with their exceptional qualifications, he was confident they would fulfil the Fund’s mandate with integrity and dedication.
